Shore leave ended a few weeks back and we are back on the Loop. And back to busy days and sketchy internet, thus the delay in getting this posted....
We arrived in Manitowoc on September 2nd -- relieved to be out of the car and even happier to be back on FREEDOM. Hamilton was so excited he dragged me down the dock, leaped on board and did a celebratory dance!
It took a few days to get the boat organized and provisioned. In between all that, and while we still had the rental car, we headed up to Green Bay to see Lambeau Field, aka The Frozen Tundra. We toured the stadium from top to bottom/ sky box to field, and even had the chance to run through the players tunnel.
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| 80% of the outdoor seating is metal bleachers. Fun on a winter's day! |
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| The Cap'n at the entrance to the players tunnel |
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| An entering player's-eye-view of the field |
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| Cheese Head Game Day Treats |
A weather system kept us tied to the dock for one more and then we were off on a sun-filled September Saturday. We learned after we left that the annual Sputnik Fest was to take place in Manitowoc that very day. It seems that when the Russian satellite Sputnik IV fell from the sky back in 1962 a 20lb piece of it fell in Manitowoc. Each year that event is celebrated with what is considered to be one of the funkiest festivals in the US. I guess we will have to go back one day to see for ourselves.
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| The former Budweiser plant at the entracne to Manitowoc harbour. |
We headed south among the western shore of Lake Michigan towards Milwaukee and Chicago -- two waterfront-focused cities. Most Loopers hug the eastern lake shore on their way to the inland rivers. We decided early on to see both sides of the lake -- the quieter towns of the eastern shore and the lively cities on the west side. After accomplishing this plan, we have no regrets.
We arrived at the McKinley Marina in Milwaukee with plenty of time to settle in, take a walk, watch the boats sailing in and out of the incredibly busy harbor and catch a cab to the Lake Front Brewery for the 6 PM tour. The Brewery offers a lively "beer in hand" tour and serves snacks and dinner in their beer hall.
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| Everybody Sing Along with Laverne and Shirley -- Milwaukee's most famous brewery workers! |
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| Kielbasa Pops at the Lake Front Bewery. Genius! |
On Sunday, after a morning of boat chores, our friend Tyler arrived and we all spent the afternoon walking along the park lined water front. While the Cap'n, Tyler and Hamilton checked out a local festival, I walked to the art museum to get an up close look at its unique design. Most significant is its:
Quadracci Pavilion
The graceful
Quadracci Pavilion is a sculptural, postmodern addition designed by Spanish architect
Santiago Calatrava. Highlights of the building are the magnificent cathedral-like space of
Windhover Hall, with a vaulted a 90-foot-high glass ceiling; the
Burke Brise Soleil, a moveable sunscreen with a 217-foot wingspan that unfolds and folds twice daily; and the Reiman Bridge, a pedestrian suspension bridge that connects the Museum to the city.
In the architect's words: "this project responds to the culture of the lake: the sailboats, the weather, the sense of motion and change.”
Bundled in fleece, we left the yacht club just after 7AM on Thursday September 11th. The sky was overcast and the temperature was 54. Despite the lumpy ride along the lake shore to the entrance of the Cal-Sag we knew it was time to keep heading south and find some sunshine and warmer temperatures!
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